2019 Maximum Weekly Unemployment Benefits By State

Listed below are the latest maximum weekly unemployment insurance benefit/compensation amounts by state. The Unemployment compensation (UC) program is designed to provide benefits to most individuals out of work or in between jobs, through no fault of their own.

Note, the table below contains the the maximum weekly unemployment insurance compensation (benefit) including adjustments for dependents where applicable. In most cases the number of dependents you have and average maximum weekly wage will impact the unemployment benefit you are eligible for. Please check the respective state unemployment website in the table below for state specific details, latest numbers and process to claim the benefits. The data in this post is informational only for reference.

The Federal-State UC program is a partnership based upon federal law, but administered by state employees under state laws. Thus each state designs its own UC program within the guidelines of the federal requirements, which includes setting the benefit amount along with eligibility and disqualification provisions. There are significant differences between states so please visit the state unemployment for detailed rules and benefit calculation scenarios.

The Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC), which provided federal benefits on top of the state benefits (up to 99 weeks of benefits), has now expired and is not longer available. You can see this article for more details, but as of now only state unemployment benefits are available to the unemployed.

I will keep updating the table with annual state unemployment benefit changes and encourage you to follow this site via social media to get the latest updates. State unemployment benefit information is constantly changing so if you notice any discrepancies please leave a comment and I will update.

– Contact the State Unemployment Insurance agency as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. Go the website to see if you can file electronic claims or to get the location/number of the nearest unemployment office.

– Have details of your former employment available. Make sure to give complete and correct information to ensure no delays with your claim processing. It generally takes two to four weeks after you file your claim to receive your first benefit check.

– Your state unemployment website (links in table above) will generally allow you to calculate your estimated state unemployment benefits prior to or when submitting a claim. You will need to have your income/wages earned during the four prior calendar quarters (base year period) and also number of hours worked in some instances for each of these quarters. Since the wages you earn can vary significantly from quarter to quarter, you may want to consider these differences in deciding when to file your claim. Refer to your local state’s website for specifics on calculations and eligibility.

The final amount of your benefit is determined after the State UI division process your application and validates income and employment duration with your employer(s).

Taxation on Unemployment Benefits

Unemployment insurance is taxable income and must be reported on your IRS federal income tax return. Your local state unemployment agency will send you form 1099-G to file with your tax return (see due dates). This form is sent in late January and outlines the amount of benefits paid to you during the previous year. You can choose to withhold income tax during the year with 10 percent being the maximum generally allowed.

Claiming Benefits Across Multiple States

If you worked and earned wages in multiple states you may be able to claim benefits from all these states relative to the income you earned. Generally you should first exhaust benefits from the state where you had the highest income and/or lived for the longest duration in the base year of figuring your claim. After which you can submit claims from the other states up to the maximum weekly benefit.

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134 thoughts on “2019 Maximum Weekly Unemployment Benefits By State”

Reference Georgia @ 14 weeks benefits… With the way things are now with the Federal government being suspended and with talk of effecting foodstamps, Medicaid, and childcare by end of January 2019 or February 2019 and so many people that will not get their paychecks January 15, 2019 — jobs are hard to find through this transition why Georgia UCB is only for 14 weeks and most states are at 26 weeks.

Scott W.
I’m sorry, but with the comments before yours, I just had to weigh in. As far as smelling a crooked politician, he’ll, throw a rock, and you’ll hit 10, but how exactly is it “not fair” that all states aren’t the same? That statement requires a good bit of ignorance about the complexities of real world economics.
By your logic, the guy in Nebraska shouldn’t pay the $1,200 per year for his property taxes, but should instead be forced to pay the $11,000 I pay annually here in Pa.
And the most obvious reason it’s different state by state, is…. well….. states are different!
It’s NOT a federal program. Federal funds can be used when needed( extensions) etc… but I know it’s more expensive to live in New York, than where I am, so I understand why their maximum would be more. I’m not butthurt about it, cause that’s just jealousy at the end of the day.
Don’t covet thy neighbors ass.

Earlier this year, I moved from my job in Iowa (where I had worked all of 2016/2017 and into 2018) over to Missouri (Apr-June 2018) and was laid off. I applied for benefits in MO, but was denied, as the wages aren’t “available” yet. I was told to apply in Iowa, did so, also listing my MO information (I thought the entire claim would remain in Iowa and they would just pull in MO wages, as they became available). Spoke with Iowa today – she stated, I’d be approved for benefits in Iowa, but my Iowa wages are being sent over to Missouri now.

So, my question is — Iowa benefits $447 for 26 weeks, whereas, Missouri benefits $320 for 20 weeks. Since they are Iowa wages, by which states benefits will be received?

I wish that you would include in this information how you can protest the maximum amount per state. Really it is ridiculous the difference from state to to state. There should not be so much of a difference. If this is a federal program, how is it right one states get more or less than other states. For those states that are getting below 400 i smell a crooked politician. If i am understanding this right, companies pay the same amount into unemployment insurance regardless of state. How are some states able to pay more? So if some states are getting less than others, where is this money going to? Some crooked politician? who is getting paid off with this extra money floating around. This needs to be brought to the attention of the public. we need some clear and open transparency about how this funding is taking place. The public needs a little more control of this issue.

Employers do not pay the same amount into Unemployment Insurance (UI) based on state. Multiple factors go into what an Employer will pay. Their Merit Rating, Charge Credits, Voluntary Contributions and Benefits paid. This will determine the tax rate assigned along with any uncontrollable factors which may come from each state individually.

I am 49 and I’ve been working all of my life (since I was 14). Now that I actually need unemployment benefits, I’m only allowed $350 for a mere 12 weeks? This is just not right! And to the trolls or commenters that may state “just go get a job,” it’s not that easy when you’re a middle age professional with years of experience and they want to pay small, entry-level wages. Heck, I would accept a lower wage, but I’m just not receiving any offers!

I am in the same boat as you Samantha! I have worked since I was 13 and am now 56. It’s a travesty that this is all we get from a system we have put so much into over the course of our lives. It’s really disheartening.

I hope you’re doing OK. I agree that such minimal compensation is a joke — a bad joke — and that it isn’t so easy to “get a job!” just like that. I hope you vote for Democrats and not GOPs, because Dems are the ones who stand up for workers’ rights and for a decent safety net when people are out of work. (By the way, the Dems are also the party of fiscal responsibility — it’s the GOPs who spend surpluses and run up new deficits.) Good luck to you.

There used to be stated that would accept a claim even though no wages were earned in that state if you had wages from 2 or more states in the past year. Do any states still do that? If so, which ones?

In the State of North Carolina, unemployment is only for 12 weeks, not 5-20. Please delete the “to 20 weeks”. After I called and spoke with a NC UI employee, they confirmed it is only 12 weeks, and that is the max which is awful compared to our other states.

In Pennsylvania you can not draw UI benefits if you draw any other retirement , other than SS. It is based on the amount of “other retirement you receive” When I worked in Pa, I had UI deducted from my check. Are there other States which follow this rule also and who are those States, it is difficult to locate this on their web pages?

UI is not paid by the employee, so it was not deducted from your check. UI is money kept in a reserve with the government and it is paid for by your employer. Social security, however is your money.
The reason you cannot get UI with retirement is because retirement is “quitting” a job. If the job is available to you, keep it. If you retire, you quit. The other reason is because your weekly wages are more than the weekly unemployment benefit. If you work for a company 30 years, like Sears and they announce that they are going out of business, you may be able to get unemployment first, then apply for your retirement b/c you were being laid off anyway. If you quit or retire before the layoff date, you won’t qualify.

In Pennsylvania employees certainly do pay into the system. Employees .07% of their wages into the system. It is one of three states where employees also pay into the system (I think it was Alaska and New Jersey were the other two). Employers definitely pay much more than employees, but employees do pay something in some states.

Pennsylvania does not allow an employee who draws any type of retirement other than SS to receive Unemployment Insurance benefits, based on amount of other retirement you receive, even though when I worked there I was charged UI taxes. What other States in the US are this way? It is impossible to determine by reading their individual sites, someone mush have this info.?

Thanks for your service. Per the last part of the article, “If you worked and earned wages in multiple states you may be able to claim benefits from all these states relative to the income you earned.” Suggest you contact your local states unemployment office (links above to each State’s UI website)

It’s appalling that unemployment benefits in Puerto Rico are just 42 to 133.00 a month while all the other states give much more. Who can live on that? This country just fleeces the Puerto Rican people decade after decade. Shame on this country and its stupid racist Congress

It probably has a lot to do with the cost of living, average wage, and number of employed/unemployed. These are set state by state, not by congress. Puerto Rico’s duly (and repeatedly) elected liberal/democrat government is spending itself into oblivion, and creating these unemployment compensation benefits. Puerto Rico has nobody else to blame, racist or otherwise, but itself.

What’s appalling is the level of ignorance , racism , and foolishness that comes forth from your post. Take some time to use the device to research your unemployment benefits come from and you will learn that the Federal Government doesn’t determine your rates. Your local government does. And the money comes from locally collected taxes from your fellow man and women.

I’m in Florida. Previously made $55k. Currently unemployed. It’s outrageous that max unemployment is $275 weekly. Guess what? Now that the poverty level increased- I’ve suddenly become ‘too poor’ for tax credit on my Obamacare insurance premium. The marketplace rep suggested Medicaid (don’t qualify cause I’m unmarried and childless). Lol. Freaking laughable. I choose not to participate in this nonsense so I’m forgoing insurance for now. Can’t be penalized because technically I don’t make enough.

No unemployment benefit worthy of the name and no Medicaid – two of the great benefits of living in a low-tax, red state, populated with retirees who live there EXACTLY because there are no taxes. No taxes translates to no social safety nets for the average worker who is paying to support these retirees with their FICA contributions. Especially hard on the single without children. You need to move further north – or to California Or, TX. TX at least has a decent UE benefit.

Don’t feel to bad Lois. Amazing enough our Gov Doug Ducey in Arizona just signed a bill regulating a maximum of 4 weeks of unemployment compensation at $240 weekly. Since the Unemployment is down in Arizona to 4.3 %, this means you can go out and get a job no matter what kind of job. Also in the hiring the employer should pay 20% above $240 which is $288 a week. Makes a lot of sense here in Arizona doesn’t it???

I see Georgia states 14-20 weeks; how can I get 20 weeks as my 14 is almost up? I will have employment in 4 weeks with a trucking company, but need the extra 4 weeks to keep the lights on and myself fed… please help

Be glad you aren’t in MS, Alabama, AZ, FL, TN – all of which pay under $300/mo. CA is the most claimant-friendly state in the US. $450/wk is still $1,949/mo. That’s more than many people earn, these days.

Scroll to the bottom of the article. If you worked and earned wages in multiple states you may be able to claim benefits from all these states relative to the income you earned. Generally you should first exhaust benefits from the state where you had the highest income and/or lived for the longest duration in the base year of figuring your claim. After which you can submit claims from the other states up to the maximum weekly benefit. Note that when assessing your eligibility for state unemployment they will look at your earned income in that state as well. So go to both the state’s websites and see which one provides you with the greatest benefit (you may not be eligible for the maximum benefit in either state)

You should file for UI in the state he worked in as they look at hours worked in their UI benefit calculations. You can also try and file in Alabama to see if you can get an extra or supplemental benefit from them.

I have a few family members going through the unemployment process for the first time.
After comparing just a few States’ unemployment insurance payments (Minnesota versus Illinois) I found it crazy that these states alone had x2 or 50% difference (depending on how you’re looking at it). Why is this so?

The Federal Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration promulgates regulations based on Federal UI Law. Each state must follow these broad regulations or risk loosing Federal funding (which is used to pay staff, buy equipment, etc, etc.).
Then each state legislature passes laws that set up UI. The State Department of Labor (names vary), then promulgates regulations and the ways in which unemployment compensation is applied for, paid, adjudicated and so forth.
So, each state can have different top rates, lowest possible rates and so on.
Yay, states rights.

MA update (Oct 2016) – Claimants receive a weekly benefit of approximately 50 percent of their average weekly wage, up to the maximum set by law. The current maximum benefit rate is $742 a week (effective October 2, 2016).

The duration of benefits – the maximum number of weeks you would be able to collect benefits – is determined by the total amount of your wages paid and the amount of your benefit rate.

The maximum number of weeks a claimant can collect full benefits is 30 weeks. Under Massachusetts law, regular benefits are capped at 26 weeks (instead of the maximum of 30 weeks) whenever there is a program of extended benefits. However, many individuals qualify for less than the maximum weeks of coverage. The maximum benefit credit amount is $22,260, which equals $742 a week for 30 weeks.

If you are eligible for UI benefits in Massachusetts, you will receive a weekly payment for the prior week’s benefit. If you have children, you may be eligible to receive an additional $25 per child per week up to a maximum of 1/2 of your weekly benefit amount.

I just retired out of the militray after 20 years. I live in CA and just filed unemployment in CA. I have been awarded 477 a week. I am a retired 03E must look for jobs, register for CALJOBS. I am unsure why some military folks who served 4 years honorably aren’t getting it.

Thanks for letting me know. I have updated to 12 weeks (from 14 weeks in 2015, to 26 weeks before that). Also note in Florida, Unemployment Insurance was rebranded with the name Reemployment Assistance.

Unemployment Max benefit should be based on the location of the employer’s HOME OFFICE, especially when it is an international company with offices all over the map. The way it is set up now leads companies to open offices and opportunities, in the lowest paying states, like Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. In effect, paying out the lowest max rate in unemployment benefits, yet will have home offices in Connecticut, where is pays out one of most the highest max benefits. that should be illegal.

I’m sorry, this statement is not correct. I worked in North Carolina and the company was based in Florida. I was required to file a Florida claim in order to obtain benefits based on where their Federal Tax ID is registered.

Well i just found out about the $275/wk MAX that I SHOULD receive. Not sure if that is pre or post tax I worked for the company for ten years. $50,000 a year with benefits that brought my actual cost to over $60K per year . I cannot imagine the formula used to calculate this amount to be a fair compensation for wrongful termination. I decided not to take this to court and look at it as an act of God that I needed to move on to other things seeing this ludicrous number, I wonder if I did the right thing. However, this is an absolutely clear sign that it is time to leave my native birthplace and improve my quality of life in more than one way.

Working in stateI left my work in Pennsylvania after two years based on my own choice to accept an offer from Maryland. Then I was laid off in Maryland after 6 months. Before that I was lived and worked in Pennsylvania for two years. Can I fill the claim in any of Maryland or Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania gives 573$ compared to 430$ in Maryland but I worked only 6 months in Maryland. It was my choice to left the work in Pennsylvania but I lost my work in Maryland without any fault from my sides in the last 18 months

I left my work in Pennsylvania after two years based on my own choice to accept an offer from Maryland. Then I was laid off in Maryland after 6 months. Before that I was lived and worked in Pennsylvania for two years. Can I fill the claim in any of Maryland or Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania gives 573$ compared to 430$ in Maryland but I worked only 6 months in Maryland. It was my choice to left the work in Pennsylvania but I lost my work in Maryland without any fault from my side

You can file in Pennsylvania, as long as you worked in Pennsylvania during the base period beginning January 2015. Tell Pennsylvania Dept. of Labor you want a combined wage claim between Maryland and Pennsylvania. I have a combined wage claim myself.

You would have to go to the individual state websites…I am not sure of a central location for this data. Or would have to contact a data services provider (e.g bloomberg or related) that keeps this information. Would be expensive.

So I was getting 199 a week on unemployment then worked at soc lost job got approved for 20 weeks of 292 a week but now out of weeks but still have 1872 dollars on account… can I still get unemployment benefits?

Texas just did their unemployment rate last week. But they always cut people off without notification when they do it..even though you’re eligible for 52 weeks n cut off people mid time or before n now you can’t even get through cause their phones are so busy.. People got bills..

Kevin would be curious to know how you managed to get 52 weeks and $479.00 a week. I am in Texas and got $435.00 week for only 26 weeks and they tell me I am done…….no more benefits to receive and this after 23 years for the same company. Go figure

I’d like to know if there is an extension on 26 weeks in Texas. I got the $479 but am on week 16 and worry if I don’t find something soon. As for experienced workers I’ve basically done the same type jobs for 40 years. With 4 companies, always went to another job never out of work. Now they don’t want to pay for mature employees with experience!!

I don’t understand how they expect us to work twice as hard for unemployment when we already did our hard earned labor to collect it. i.e., register online for the jobcenterofwisconsin.gov, oh and don’t forget that when u first sign up for UI you have to fax proof of employment papers stating why you were laid off or terminated, go online and apply for at least 4 jobs, at the end of the week fax papers to UI then Sunday call for your weekly claim. But what about the people who don’t have transportation, or isn’t close to a job center to do applications, who don’t have access to Internet or computers, etc. what about if that is the only income they’re waiting on to get so they can go and put gas in their cars or bus fare to get to the places they have to go. They don’t think, but yet they still try to make it hard for us to collect OUR FINANCES that we worked hard for.

You can thank your Legislature for being lap dogs of the Koch brothers for all that nonsense. We have the same garbage here in Florida (another Teabag Party Legislature enslaved to the Koch brothers). At least your benefits in Wisconsin aren’t maxed out at $275/week and can only collect for 12 weeks (like they do in Florida)! Or, at least not yet…. Give Pee Wee Walker a few more months and he’ll trash your State as badly as Skeletor the Medicare Fraudster did to Florida!

I am livid! After 25 years of working and tolerating the infantile personalities of supposed leaders in management I worked interstate, only six miles from home. That state’s unemployment is $100 LESS per week than the state in which I reside.

I’m already going to have to do SOMETHING to survive but $400/month is a huge difference. Why I could actually keep my home!

Cindy, If you work in 2 or more states you can file in either state. I think now you have to have worked in that state, but just a few years ago you could file on ANY state as long as you worked in 2 or more. I filed a claim on MA, am form OK, and only worked that year in CA, IL and MO. Check into it.

Here in Florida they have approved my unemployment claim and say they will pay me $232 a week. I have not seen a dime. They say there is something to be adjudicated although I have an approval letter. I try to call but I can never get through to a human so I can never get answers. The state now owes me $928. I don’t think I’ll ever see it. Slick Rick and his crew are balancing the budget on the backs of the poor. They keep the unemployment numbers looking good by ignoring the unemployed until they go away.

I was approved in Florida also for $274 a week and it was one month and one week after losing my job that I finally received payment with back pay for all weeks claimed. You will get it since you have the approval letter. Sometimes that adjudication comes from them being backed up processing claims, then you will see your payments like clock work every two weeks after entering your job contacts . If you want to call them, Monday is not good, but Wednesday is perfect. Right at 7:00 am have that phone ringing and you will get in before the large call volume

Unemployment claims have TWO approvals. 1) Monetary Approval to determine “how much” you will receive if your separation is determined in your favor. 2) Non-Monetary Approval, which states that your separation from your employment was due to no fault of your own and you will then begin receiving payment. The only separations that begin after 10 business days automatically are “Layoffs or Lack of Work”. All others that are considered “Discharges” must be adjudicated by a human being and therefore the process can take 4-6 weeks if the separation documentation provided by the employee and employer are conflicting. Hope this helps.

This just goes to show you how much our so called wonderful government cares about its people, they consistently give themselves raises, but we can’t get a raise on unemployment? 6 months of unemployment really isn’t much time to try an find a career for yourself, an now we have to pay health insurance out of the unemployment benifit we receive, forget the house payment 4 of us can live in my car til it’s repossessed, just as long as we have health insurance that won’t cover anything, wow wonder what kinda money the government gets for setting up this deal with the insurance companies, pretty clear those who r supposed to be helping this once great country are really only concerned with lining there own pockets, I just wanna say thanks to the government for not caring in the time of our need!!!! Don’t worry about me I’ll survive, now get out there an bomb some country for there oil!!!

Hope you don’t live in Florida. Not only do you max out the weekly benefit at $275, you can only collect for 12 weeks, thanks to the Teabag Party Legislature that’s enslaved to their beloved Koch Brothers)!! I hope Florida voters finally wake up and throw these clowns out of office!!

If you figure a person in Wisconsin has worked for 17 years before losing their job, at an average pay of $50,000/year of which, between the employer and employee contribution of 7%/paycheck, the total monies paid into the employee’s unemployment insurance would be $59,500.

The maximum, the amount an employee in Wisconsin can receive is $9,620, or 16% of the monies paid into their unemployment insurance.

Imagine paying car insurance that only covered 16% of the cost of repairs or replacement of your vehicle? Or 16% of the repairs on the damage to the roof of your house.

Susen,
Unemployment taxes are not collected on an employees entire yearly wage.
There is a maximum wage base that varies by state, and taxes are not paid above that limit.
Wisconsin’s maximum wage base is $14,000 for 2017, so only the first $14,000 of each employees wages are taxed. If WI is like most states, the wage base has risen over the last decade, and most likely prior to that the base was much lower – $6,000 used to be a good average.
This is all payable they the employer.
Most always when the employee has a deduction from their check, it is because the state has had to borrow from the federal unemployment fund and this is to help pay it back. Once their account has been cleared, the employee deductions should cease.
I know this information doesn’t help make ends meet, but might make it easier knowing there isn’t as much difference as you were thinking between what was paid in vs what you could receive.

I don’t know how some of these states expect people to live if they lose their jobs. Michigan pays the same maximum they did 20 years ago. So if a guy makes $1100.00 a week he’s supposed to live on 362.00 pre tax. Auto insurance alone will kill you in Michigan. Everything has tripled and quadrupled in the past 20 years. I noticed that our wonderful state government has been consistently giving themselves “cost of living raises” and their paid by the taxpayers salaries have more than doubled in the same period of time.

Apparently here in FL I am expected to live on $74 a week. Yes, seventy four dollars…It would have been better to let them lay me off at full time than work all this past year and struggle with part time pay and use up savings to now face the prospect of getting laid off. What am I going to do? I am terrified. How awful a life must be to look at prisoners and think they have it better than you do.Why are the states with people that need unemployment the most, the states that have the lowest pay and lowest weeks? Besides the fact that the stupid people here vote republican and they are the ones that give out the most corporate welfare and screw over the people.

It’s sad sad sad when the rich keep getting richer off the economically poor and the they keep getting poorer… The cost of living in FL is not that low for the unemployment rate to be amongst the low end of the sphere with other states. This is a very political state and a must know someone to get a job that pays a decent salary state. When you apply for over 100 management jobs and go on 10 interviews and have a masters degree and a professionally written resume showing your accomplishments as well as your experience to be in management and do not get a call back, but have spoken to individuals in the company or organization that is working and just got on with an associate degree doing something they have no skills for but their GOD mother works there and got them on then you know you are out of your league and need to find some connections or get out of Florida….

Hi , I would like to know about if you don’t have any past experience job in united state. I am new immigrant in Portland I will get my benefit for 8 month s after that I must have to work but as I am interested to study here in college so I want the employment benefit that I can give my home rent and other personal expense till I will done with my college studies.after that I will look for job to get it. so I need your assistance in this regard . please send me that am I illegible for this unemployment benefit or not . if not is there any solution that I can effort my self to continue my studies in here .